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I am trying to dual boot with 2 different hard drives and 2 different systems. One is Vista x64 and the other is Windows 7 Professional 32-bit. After installing the hard drive with Windows 7 which came from a different computer, I used EasyBCD to configure the boot order. Windows vista still works, but when I want to switch to Windows 7 I get:

The best way to Dual Boot OS's on separate HD's is to set the preferred OS HD as Primary HD and first HD to boot in BIOS setup, then when needed trigger the other using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

If this is not desireable, then set Win7 HD as Primary HD and first HD to boot in BIOS setup, install easyBCD to Win7 to add XP.

Before doing this delete any EasyBCD listing for the other HD you've already made in Edit OS Menu tab.

I have already set preferred OS, which is vista, to be first in hard drive boot up. What do you mean set as primary hard drive? Is there something else to be done besides setting the boot up order in bios? Also, what is one-time BIOS boot menu key? As, i said in my original post, I cannot even get into Windows 7. What is the point of making it primary HD? Also, I don't have XP, but vista.

Are both HD's listed in the BIOS boot order to choose? If not then there is likely another place in BIOS setup where you choose the primary hard drive. This makes sure that drive is the one booted when you choose the HD to boot first.

To repair Win7, unplug the Vista drive, swap its cable to Win7 so you know it remains set to boot first,

Now power down to plug back in the other hard drive, reboot to confirm Win7 boots. Then reboot again, tap the key given on first boot screen for Boot Menu, see if you can choose the Vista hard drive to boot. BIOS Boot menu keys

If you fill out your System specs to bottom left corner of your posts with at least your PC or mobo make/ model we can help you better.

Both HD's are listed in the bios boot order and I have already set the boot priorities. As for partitions, the option to mark partition as active is grayed out in both. However, both drives are marked as active and primary already. Both are online as well (even though I don't know what that means in this situation).

P.S. Should I be able to see the 2nd hard drive with Windows 7 on it in my computer and be able to open it as well? While running Vista? I thought this was weird. Maybe it is of no importance.

For start up repair, I don't have the system disk and no repair disk. I guess I should plug the windows 7 hard drive into the old computer and make a repair disk?

Windows 7, winload.exe error:0x00000e9, Boot failureEverytime I turn on my computer and it asks me to select what windows to load (vista, 7 (I Don't have dual boot set up though??) and I do Windows 7, it does not Boot and gives me the winload.exe error message in my title. I have read alot here but been unable to fixc the problem, maybe hard disk?...

Hardware & Devices

Dual boot & and XP winload errorSorry to ask this if it has been asked a million times. Have hunted around on the forums here did not find my exact problem.
I have a computer with 7 installed, and followed the guide on these forums to set up a partition with XP. I installed EasyBCD, and get the initial black screen that allows...

Installation & Setup

Removing Vista from Dual-Boot System Vista + Windows 7Hey guys, I've been looking through the forum and found some similar posts, but wanted to make sure that I understand everything before actually proceeding. I have a HP HDX 16t which came with Vista Home Premium 64 bit. I used the Windows 7 Upgrade Disk to do a clean install of Win7 on a new...

Installation & Setup

dual boot windows 7 and vista boot error winload.exeI installed Windows 7 on a partitioned harddrive with vista on the other half.
After the installation i have my boot menu with:
Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows vista still works but when i try and load windows 7 i get a boot error message:
FILE \windows\system32\winload.exe